Average customer rating:
- I should have paid attention to the 1 star reviews
- awful
- Is Thor worth a second chance?
- Page-Turning Junk Food for Action Fans
- Good book/read
|
Path of the Assassin
Brad Thor
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Action & Adventure
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Thrillers
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue
| Thrillers
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Action & Adventure
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Thrillers
| Mystery & Thrillers
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue
| Thrillers
| Mystery & Thrillers
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
State of the Union: A Thriller
-
Blowback: A Thriller
-
Takedown: A Thriller
-
The First Commandment: A Thriller
-
Secret Sanction
ASIN: 0743436768 |
Book Description
Brad Thor's national best-selling debut, The Lions of Lucerne, was hailed as "high-voltage entertainment reminiscent of Robert Ludlum" (Literary Journal). Now, he again delivers a non-stop action as one man's quest for revenge thrusts him into a battle to save his country....
After rescuing the President from kidnappers, Navy SEAL turned Secret Service agent Scot Harvath shifts his attentions to rooting out, capturing, or killing all those responsible for the plot. As he prepares to close out his list, a bloody and twisted trail of clues points toward one man -- the world's most feared, most ruthless terrorist, Hashim Nidal. Having assembled an international league of Islamic terrorist networks in an ingenious plot to topple both Israel and America, Harvath and his CIA-led team must reach Nidal before it's too late. One problem remains -- they have no idea what the man looks like. With no alternative, Harvath is forced to recruit a civilian -- a woman who has survived a brutal hijacking and is now the only person who can positively identify their quarry.
From the burning deserts of North Africa to the winding streets of Rome, Harvath must brave a maelstrom of bloodshed and deception -- before a madman's twisted vision engulfs the world in the fires of all-out war....
Download Description
"When Brad Thor arrived on the scene with his hard-hitting debut novel, The Lions of Lucerne, he was greeted with an enthusiasm rarely seen since John le Carré's heyday. ""A roller-coaster of a debut,"" pronounced Kyle Mills. And Nelson DeMille, the master of the genre himself, welcomed Thor as ""a savvy new novelist"" with a knack for action scenes that ""will give the reader a case of vertigo."" Now, Thor and his indomitable hero Scot Harvath are back, raising the stakes and taking on one of the world's most deadly terrorist organizations bent on stoking a global holy war of apocalyptic proportions. After rescuing the President from kidnappers, Navy SEAL turned Secret Service agent Scot Harvath shifts his attentions to rooting out and capturing or killing all those responsible for the plot. As he prepares to close out his list, a bloody and twisted trail of clues points toward one man -- the world's most feared, most ruthless terrorist, Hashim Nidal, who has assembled an international league of Islamic terrorist networks in an ingenious plot to topple both Israel and America. Harvath and his CIA-led team must reach Nidal before it's too late. One problem remains -- they have no idea what the man looks like. Only one person can positively identify Harvath's quarry -- Meg Cassidy, a beautiful hijacking survivor. Together, Scot and Meg must untangle a maddening web of global intrigue stretching across four continents. From Macau, Jerusalem, and Chicago to Libya, Capri, and Rome, Harvath and Cassidy find themselves locked in a desperate race against time to sort the pieces of a deadly puzzle that will test not only their physical and mental limits, but also the growing bond they feel for each other. "
Customer Reviews:
I should have paid attention to the 1 star reviews.......2007-10-05
thankfully, I got the book cheap because otherwise I would be furious. I'm already upset that I wasted some of my life trying to read this book. Finally, after 200 pages, I had to stop. The dialogue is juvenile.Harvath is the only one who can do things correctly; he's the only one among trained agents who can think; he's the only one who can shoot straight (oh, except for the convenient beautiful woman who just happens to take on armed terrorists). Please, don't make the mistake I made: pay attention to those 1 star reviews. Save your money for something that is worth it.
awful.......2007-09-24
true one can glean some interesting information about weaponry,warfare and such but Thor needs a couple of years in writing 1,2,3,4 until he gets it right.
very formulaic and ultimately boring.
Is Thor worth a second chance?.......2007-09-11
I wanted to like this book based on the fact that according to his biography, Mr. Thor seems to be considered a knowledgeable person regarding terrorism. I am therefore willing to give him another chance since this book was one of his earlier releases and the fact that I believe some of the best ways to explore what possible terrorist scenarios we could face as a nation are through novel form.
I am not the type of person who expects Les Miserables or Atlas Shrugged kind of character development and dialogue in thriller and spy novels. That being said however I thought the characters lacked much depth at all and the dialogue was extremely sophomoric throughout most of the book. The overall premise of the story I thought was interesting and could have made for a much better book.
I will give Thor another chance at some point but if I feel the same way about the next book after fifty pages I'll have to give up. There are too many other great thriller/spy novel authors like Daniel Silva and Vince Flynn just to name a couple.
Page-Turning Junk Food for Action Fans.......2007-08-12
This isn't a great book by any stretch of the imagination. But it's a fun book, and sometimes its OK to have some fun while you're reading. If you like James Bond, Die Hard movies, or mid-80s Arnold Schwarzeneggar movies, you're going to like this book. There's lots of chases, guns, macho posturing, and humor. There's an attractive female, too! No sex, but that's OK, because if you like chases, guns, and taking it to the bad guys, this book has it.
What it doesn't have is good writing. It has long, long, chases and fights that are about as suspenseful as an episode of Barney. The reason there is no suspense is that the author never makes us feel as if the protagonists are in actual danger. There were times when I'd skip ahead six pages because that's how long the chase would go on for. Really, I get kind of tired reading about a car chase in which all the roads are named, but nothing happens to the plot. Oh, except the bad guy got away. Again.
Fun, but not something you proudly display on your shelf.
Good book/read.......2007-07-25
I really enjoy the Scot Harvath series. I think I like the Mitch Rapp series a bit more, by Vince Flynn. But I think Brad Thor does a good job with this character and his plots/books. Path of the Assassin is a good book and reads fast with action and drama to spare. Just what I need to "escape" for awhile in an alternate reality. A+
Book Description
It's a battle of ninja vs. ninja, with all the stops pulled out and every trick in the book. Well, almost every trick. Our protagonist/ninja, Hanzo's young ninja wife, Tsukumo, must avenge her father's death at the hands of another shadow warrior, but he's as crafty as they come. This mystical, imaginative faceoff consumes all 300 plus pages of this action-stuffed volume.
Customer Reviews:
A great series by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima!.......2007-10-06
I've been a long time collecter or almost everything that Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima have done, even some books and novels that were never released in the USA or translated into English. Their creative story lines and tradtional style of graphics are just outstanding!
Bravo for the Bushido of Hattori Hanzo.......2007-05-13
Just as the LONE WOLF & CUB "Baby Cart" films hooked me into getting the entire 14 trade paperback manga series in Japanese before its 28 digest volume release in English, watching KAGE NO GUINDAN on TV a decade or so back [as well as his recent appearance in KILL BILL] got me hooked on Hattori Hanzo. PATH OF THE ASSASSIN is the tale of the original Hattori Hanzo at the birth of the Tokagawa Shoginate that gives both depth and the historical perspective on his descendants ablely acted by Chiba Shinichi. Kazuo Koike gives his readers insight on Japanese character by giving them the role models of LONE WOLF & CUB, SAMURAI EXECUTIONER, and now PATH OF THE ASSASSIN all from Dark Horse and available on Amazon. This series is a must for mature manga fans as is all of the Kazuo Koike's historical work.
"A man's nature can never change. No matter how hard he tries.".......2007-04-08
"Path of the Assassin" ("Hanzo no Mon") was originally published in 1972 but it was not until last year that Dark Horse Manga published the first of what will be 15 volumes reprinted in English but also in the original right-to-left format. Writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goeski Kojima, well known for their epic saga "Lone Wolf and Cub" ("Kozure Okami," 1970-76) and the related manga "Samurai Executioner" ("Kubikiri Asa," 1972-76), continue the story of two famous figures from the history of Japan. Set in the 16th-century, "Path of the Assassin" is about the fabled ninja Hattori Hanzo and his master Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who would unite Japan as shogun. Consequently this is the most historical work by Koike and Kojima to date, and in some ways the most ambitious for dealing with real people and events. That being send, Volume 5 is the least historical of the volumes to date. As always, the Parental Advisory label warning of explicit content in these stories should be taken seriously.
At this point in the saga we are continuing the "Chapter on Relinquishing Paths." The death of Imagawa Yoshimoto has created a power vacuum and it is clear that each of Ieyasu's steps towards power are becoming more and more fraught with danger. Previously Hanzo had pulled off a hostage exchange scheme to rescue Ieyasu's wife Tsukiyama and their children. However, having seen Tsukiyama having sex with Ujizane, Hanzo has compelled Tsukiyama not to sleep with Ieyasu for ten months, to insure that she is not carrying Ujizan's child. In exchange, Hazno has agreed to stay away from his master during that time. "Volume 5: Battle of One Hundred and Eight Days" contains only parts, with the first setting up the 244-page story that gives this volume its title.
"No. 6: "Departing Sleep and the Logic of Sleep" is set in the Takeda territory of Kofuchu, where Kansuke, father of Hanzo's wife Tsukumo, is attacked in his sleep by the ninja Kite Danzo, known as Kite Kato. Kansuke is mortally wounded, but is able to get Kato to flee because he has planned for this moment in quite an unusual way (reading this story the day after seeing "Planet Terror" is one of those coincidences that convinces me irony is the master trope of the universe). Hanzo and Tsukumo come to Kansuke's side, at which doing the dying man argues that his son-in-law must support Oyakatsama in the coming struggle to seize control of the nation and establish a new reign and not Nobunga, despite his success in defeating and killing Imagawa. Then, as a dowry for the groom who took his daughter as a bride, Kansuke explains what the title of the story calls "the Logic of Sleep."
"No. 7: Battle of One Hundred and Eight Days" begins with the funeral of Kansuke, and then with Hanzo bringing his father-in-law's bones to Oyakatsama and set up a favor for his master down the road. But what this story is really about is the epic battle between the two ninjas when Hanzo goes after Kite Kato. Tsukumo helps her husband by using special techniques to sharpen her sense of smell while Kite Kato does his own purification ritual, thereby raising the curtain for the battle that would last over one hundred and eight days. However, despite that title, it is more of a psychological battle than a physical contest as Kite Kato is confounded by the way Hanzo and Tsukumo are "one flesh" (and, yes, there is a significance to the number of days). Hanzo also has the radical ideal that as a samurai his death is not the greatest gift he can give his master. Meanwhile, the Baldy Rat visits Ieyasu with a proposal of marriage to consider and gives Hanzo's master an explanation for why his right hand has gone away without permission. What you will take away from this volume is the sense that this is the end of an interlude before Hanzo returns to the side of Ieyasu as they take the next step on the road to power. Still, I round up on this volume because of the depth Koike and Kojima provide to the deadly battle pitting youth against wisdom.
Book Description
War! Ninjas! Love! Political Intrigue! It's all packed into Path of the Assassin. Drafted by classic samurai manga creators Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima of Lone Wolf and Cub fame, Path of the Assassin is the story of a young shogun on his way to unite Japan and the trusty ninja assigned to protect him. Be it in crafty maneuverings of war, political push and pull or bedroom adventures, young Hattori Hanzo will not be kept from his duties.
Customer Reviews:
"I can't see the tomorrow...of my lord...anymore".......2007-03-09
"Path of the Assassin" ("Hanzo no Mon") was originally published in 1972, but it took over three decades for it to become available to an English speaking (and reading) audience. Dark Horse first introduced the manga duo of writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goseki Kojima through their epic saga of "Lone Wolf and Cub" ("Kozure Okami," 1970-76) followed by the publication of "Samurai Executioner" ("Kubikiri Asa," 1972-76). The 15-volume "Path of the Assassin" series is different in that the main protagonists are a pair of famous historical figures from 16th-century Japan, the fabled ninja Hattori Hanzo (yes, the same name that pops up in the "Kill Bill" movies to describe the samurai swords everybody is carting around), and his master, Matsduaira Jiro Saburo Monotnobu, who in the fullness of time would become the great shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu who would unite Japan into a modern nation. Previously Hanzo's method for reducing rice kernels to the size of sesame seeds has allowed Monotnobu, who is now calling himself Motoyasu, to deliver much needed provisions to Odaka Castle, the most forward point of Imagawa Yoshimoto's army. Then Motoyasu succeeds in defeating Sakuma Morishiege, but each success puts the young lord and his future in even more jeopardy.
The first two stories in Volume 4, "The Man Who Altered the River's Flow," complete the "Chapter on Relinquishing Death." In No. 2: "Hard Crossing on the Plain, Part 2," draws a final fateful distinction between Motoyasu and Imagawa. Both are seen eating and complaining that baked rice balls are hard and make their jaws tired. But whereas Imagawa is content to continue eating, Motoyasu continues to play out the possibilities of the war in his mind and anticipates the next move of the enemy. No. 3: "The Festivity Is in the Waiting" begins with Motoyasu listening to his vassals debate what they should do next now that the time for them to fawn, grovel, crawl, and cower beneath Imagawa is over. Again, the future shogun shows himself to be more farsighted than the rest and now that he has a home he takes a new name: Ieyasu. Meanwhile, Tsukumo's father Masanari shows up and wants to discuss with Hanzo and his father the future of their children.
The other five stories make up the "Chapter on Relinquishing Paths," which may or may not be the entire chapter. No. 1: "The Path Taken Upon Surrendering to Fate" has Ieyasu concerned that his wife and infant son being held hostage constrains his future actions. He sees before him a path of resignation and cannot help but feel that his whole life has been built upon letting things go, and makes his choice as to which side to take in the war. No 2: "The Man Who Altered the Flow of the River," is a brief but pointed conversation between Takedga Shigen and Masanari. No 3: "Last Gasp Scheme" begins with Ieyasu having nightmares about his wife and son being slaughtered and he decides to do anything to save their lives. So it is that he sends Hanzo with an urgent message for Udono Nagateru to set up another masterstroke. Meanwhile, Ieysau's wife Tsukiyama does what she must to survive, and a fateful misunderstand makes her desire Hanzo's death. No. 4: "The Vilamba's Man" tells of Tsukiyama's attempt to have Hanzo killed. No. 5: "Enduring in Ninja's Castle" finds Hanzo caught between his master and his master's wife, and taking extreme steps to make sure that he can continue to serve Ieysau.
Even as Koike and Kojima follow the path of history their emphasis is on the characters in the tale. At the start of the epic there was more of an emphasis on Hanzo, who clearly knew more about the ways of the world than his young master. But now Ieysau has clearly become the dominant figure in these books and I find myself enjoying the scenes in which the future shogun thinks things through in his head to those in which Hanzo runs around and does his ninja magic. At this point Masanari appears to have replaced the character of the Baldy Rat in being the primary foil, which continues the whole idea that no one is Ieysau's equal and whatever shortcomings he might have are more than covered by the loyal Hanzo. I really do think that despite the popularity of "Lone Wolf and Cub," it is this magna that really represents Koike and Kojima at their best. As always, the Parental Advisory label warning of Explicit Content on the cover of this manga should be taken seriously.
Book Description
Koike and Kojima's story of the famed ninja, Hattori Hanzo and his trials and tribulations protecting the shogun-to-be, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Each page builds upon the relationship between the two samurai and the women they love. Path of the Assassin, printed in the same size format as Lone Wolf & Cub and Samurai Executioner will be a wonderful addition to the Koike and Kojima samurai collection.
Customer Reviews:
Motoyasu becomes a candle flickering in the wind.......2007-02-09
There was a moment when I found myself thinking that Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima were the Stan Lee and Jack Kirby of manga, but I really do find that their work has a lot more in common with the films of Akira Kurosawa than anything in the realm of American comic books. My exposure to their work has been dictated by the production schedule of Dark Horse, which means I first read all of "Lone Wolf & Cub" and then "Samurai Executioner," and now am waiting impatiently for each new volume of "Path of the Assassin." The Japanese title was "Hanzo no Mon" because the tale is about Hattori Hanzo, the fabled master ninja who served Matsudaira Montonbu, the young lord who would grow up to become Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who unified Japan and set it on the path to becoming a modern nation. As always there is a Parental Advisory level slapped on the cover to warn about the explicit content inside, but you also should be aware that the series is printed in the original right-to-left format, which takes a wee bit of getting used to.
Volume 3, "Comparisons Of A Man," begins with the final four-and-a-half episodes of the series' second storyline, "Chapter on Relinquishing Factions." In the first year of Eiroku (1558), Motonobu has a stunning victory when he captures Mikawa Terabe Castle because of a combination of surprise tactics and Hanzo's stealth as a ninja. Because of this victory, Motonobu earns the trust of Imagawa Yoshimoto, who gives his vassal permission to change his name to Motoyasu. However, as Yoshimoto prepares to move against the capital , Motoyasu is caught between Imagawa's ambitions and the forces of Oda Nobunaga. In No. 5: "It Rains at Home, and It Rains on the Battlefield, Part 2," Motoyasu tries to find a way of lighting a fire in his wife Tsukiyama, while Hanzo considers the coming struggle. No. 6: "Blue Flag and War" finds Hanzo teaching his master how to fight in full samurai armor and then goes on a rescue mission that has an unforeseen consequences. No. 7: "Wife's Horse" has Hanzo and Tsuikomo figuring out their relationship and how to shrink rice to one tenth its size. At Imagawa's war council in No. 8: "When Bitten by a Mosquito," Motoyasu surprises everyone by volunteering to get provisions to Odaka Castle. In No. 9: "Comparison of a Man," Motoyasu's brilliant strategy is revealed, impressing the Baldy Rat, if not his master.
The final episode-and-a-half are the opening of the third story, "Chapter on Relinquishing Death." The stage is set in No. 1: "Straw Sandals for Conqueror's Horses," where Nobunaga takes the Baldy Rat's advice regarding fighting in the rain. No. 2: "Hard Crossroad on the Plain, Part 1," covers the fight for Marline Fort, where Motoyasu surprises his officers by ordering his troops to fall back when the enemy come charging out of the castle. By now we understand that there is always a reason to his strategy and tactics, but it is fighting Sakuma Morishige in a duel between the two generals that is the surprise in this one. While the personal interaction between Motoyasu and Hanzo is a key part of the story, I have become more interested in the giant chess match that the future shogun is playing, especially because at this point in the game his opponents are unaware that they are playing. Fortunately Volume 4 is on its way because I am looking forward to the next set of moves.
Into the Fire.......2006-12-23
War has finally come and both master and servant are thrown into it feet first. As Ieyashu tries to "see tomorrow" all he can see is catastrophe and slaughter. Friends are NOT, and enemies MIGHT not be. Hanzo finds someone to love, in light and in shadow. But all that may be academic if Ieyashu cannot win a duel against a master warrior. With only what little Hanzo has taught him!
It is the ending of the age of civil wars in Japan, but before it is over the country will be awash in blood and nothing will ever be the same. For those few who survive it.
Book Description
Path of the Assassin, called Hanzo no Mon in Japan, is the story of Hattori Hanzo, the fabled master ninja whose duty was to protect Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ieyasu was the shogun who would unite Japan into one great nation. But before he could do that, he had to grow up and learn how to love the ladies! As the secret caretaker of such an influential future leader, not only does Hanzo use vast and varied ninja talents, but in living closely with Ieyasu, he forms a close friendship with the young shogun.
Customer Reviews:
Tri-focal Alert.......2007-06-28
This story is a four stars - but if you are over fifty, then the type is so small you may find it an uncomfortable read. A bit more real estate on the page would be a big help.
An New Original of an Old Story.......2007-06-07
I'm a big fan of the Lone Wolf and Cub series. It tells a story with multiple, multiple layers on morality and honor. Path of the Assassin tells a great story, the relationship of a ninja and his master, whom he must protect "in the shadow" without others knowing his existence. The two are 16, players navigating the traps of the adult political world. While this first book lacks the many layered complexity of Lone Wolf and Cub the stories are high energy and deals with morality issues between the bonds of master and servant. Look for other books in this series to enjoy after this book.
Well done.......2006-11-10
Right in line with Samurai Executioner and Lone Wolf and Cub.
Engrossing story, as well as a good view into how Japan was back in the Samurai era.
"Lifelong friends, with the Same Dreams, Striving to Grow into a Rising River".......2006-07-27
"Hanzo no Mon" ("Path of the Assassin") is a manga by writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goseki Kojima that was originally published in Japan in 1972. Because it is a relatively short series, compared to Kokie and Kojima's "Lone Wolf & Cub" and "Samurai Executioner," Dark Horse is only now getting around to publishing these books now that those other series have both been concluded. We are still talking a Parental Advisory for explicit content, but unlike the previous series it has been oriented in the right-to-left reading format of the original (at at the creator's request apparently). This is the story of Jattori Hanzo, the fabled master ninja whose duty was to protect his master Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was destined to be shogun who would unify Japan and great a modern nation. As told by Koike and Kojima, not only doez Hanzo use his ninja talents to serve the future leader "in the dark," but also forms a close friendship with the young shogun.
"Path of the Assassin, Volume 1: Serving in the Dark," is set in the Sengoku period, when ambitious samurai warriors were releasing ninja, called "suppa," to be part of various plots and intrigues. The "suppa" who works for the Matsudaira clan is Hattori Hanzo Yasunaga of Iga, who orders his son Mattori Hanzo Masanari, to serve Matsduaira Jiro Saburo Monotnobu, later known as Ieyasu. When these stories begin, Motonobu, the master is only sixteen, while his servant Masanari is fifteen. This first volume has seven "chapters on relinquishing pain":
No. 1: "Suppa Unsheathed" beings with Hattori Hanzo Yasunaga ordering his eldest son to steal a giant vase with a flower and a bird on it, and to do so without being noticed. If the eldest son, Yasutoshi fails, the task will fall to the next brother, Yasumasha. When neither brother can accomplish the task, the youngest son requests the opportunity to succeed. He does with "the skill of an unsheathed suppa," and the brother who was last becomes first and is ordered to "serve our master in the dark."
No. 2: "Serving in the Dark" tells of how Masanari introduced himself to his new lord, only to have to do it a second time. The future shogun does not look that impressive, but there is some reason to believe that he is truly samurai. This is really the second part of the first episode in bringing the two characters together.
No. 3: "Mizuki" is Japanese for "water princess." Facing his wedding, Motonubu orders his servant to show him what to do with a woman who has a will of her own (a round about way of saying Motonubu is a virgin). Masanari creates a diversion in a fishing village, captures one of the half naked diving girls, and sexually assaults her while his master watches. Fortunately this one takes a couple of major twists and the character does know that he has raped a young woman, but despite the Luke & Laura ending this one is a bit unsettlng, although certainly consistent with the world Koike and Kojima present in their manga.
No. 4: "Oppressive Night of Ass" shifts the attention to Motonubu and his wedding night. Despite the illustration provided by his servant in the previous story, Motonubu and his bride take a slightly different approach to their love making, which leads the future Shogun to become rather philosophical.
No. 5: "Technique of Jisatsu" is a key story because it clearly signals that Motonubu is not on the traditional path of a tyrant. After being humiliated in a test of his swordsmanship by Asahina Yasuyoshi, the strongest samurai in the clan, Motonubu cannot get over the insult. When Motonubu asks his hidden "suppa" if he can take down Yasuyoshi, Masanari says it should not be difficult. But Motonubu insists he is only asking if it is possible and not ordering it to be done. Instead he asks for proof that hsi "suppa" can do it, which results in Motonubu learning a lesson of a different sort. Here is where we get the sense for the first time that these two might both be on the road to greatness, because prior to this point Masanari is clearly the more important and more laudable figure.
No. 6: "Kite Kato" is about Kato Danzo, who has the nickname "kite" (which means raptor) and who boldly asks permission from the viceroy of Shuruga to complete a mission of revenge. Seventeen years earlier a Harunobi exiled his own father, who became a monk (and therefore as good as dead as far as Kato is concerned), and now the time has come to claim vengeance. As Kato explains his complicated plan, Motonubu admires the "suppa," and wonders how good Masanari is at the skill of hiding his thoughts and emotions. The thoughts make him nervous.
No. 7: "Who is He in the Rain?" continues the story of Kite Kato, who has backed the viceroy into a corner. But when the viceroy orders his retainers to kill Kato, the one who does not move is Motonubu. The first part of this episode is the conclusion of Kato asking the viceroy for permission to kill two men, but the second half hinges on a brief story told by Kato that sets up a "suppa" battle between Kato and Masanari. If there is a common theme in these early stories, it is that Masanari's mind is faster than his sword, and once again it serves him in good stead and these seven stories are good enough to justify rounding up, even without taking into account the stellar reputation of their creators.
Average customer rating:
- A great series by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima!
- Ieyasu comes to the greatest difficulty of his life
|
Path Of The Assassin Volume 6 (Path of the Assassin)
Kazuo Koike , and
Goseki Kojima
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Authors, A-Z
| Books on CD
| Books on Cassette
| Fantasy
| Gaming
| Large Print
| Media
| Science Fiction
| Writing
General
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Novels
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
Dark Horse
| Publishers
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Manga
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
Shonen (Boys)
| Manga
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Historical
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Graphic Novels
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Manga
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Shonen (Boys)
| Manga
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Dark Horse
| Publishers
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Historical
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Path Of The Assassin Volume 5 (Path of the Assassin)
-
Path Of The Assassin Volume 4 (Path of the Assassin)
-
Path of the Assassin Volume 7 (Path of the Assassin)
-
Path Of The Assassin Volume 3: Comparison Of A Man (Path of the Assassin)
-
Path Of the Assassin Volume 2: Sand And Flower (Path of the Assassin)
ASIN: 1593075073 |
Book Description
If Art of War tactics and ninjitsu arts pique your interest, Path of the Assassin is the quasi historical samurai manga you've been waiting for! From the legendary comics creators Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, of Lone Wolf and Cub fame comes the story of Japan's greatest shogun and his rise to power through the battles and intrigues of his late teens. Central to the story is a young ninja who must go to great lengths in order to secure victory for the boy who would become the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Based loosely on fabled tales of the age, Path of the Assassin is an exciting and sexy series.
Customer Reviews:
A great series by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima! .......2007-10-06
I've been a long time collecter or almost everything that Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima have done, even some books and novels that were never released in the USA or translated into English. Their creative story lines and tradtional style of graphics are just outstanding!
Ieyasu comes to the greatest difficulty of his life.......2007-05-22
"Path of the Assassin, Volume 6: Life's Greatest Difficulty" consists mostly of the single epic story that gives the volume its title. Things are going well for Ieyasu, who it should be remembered is only 22-years-old at this point in his journey towards becoming Shogun and only now beginning to mull over taking the name Tokugawa. Meanwhile, Hatori Hanzo and Tsukumo have been away from their master, battling the ninja Kite Kato. Then Ieyasu comes to the event that he would speak of later as being the greatst difficulty of his life. Ieyasu had a fort built in Sasaki by Yahgi River, and now that it is completed he sets out to get some rice to stockpile at the fort, unaware that this simple act will stir up insurrections all over Mikawa, threatening not only his power but also his very life.
This classic samurai series from writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goecki Kojima, originally published in Japan under the title "Hanzo no Mon," is being published in 15 volumes by Dark Horse. Because of its focus on Ieyasu and Hanzo, this magna is more historical in nature than either "Lone Wolf & Cub" or "Samurai Executioner." At this point we are in the early 1560s, as Ieyasu battles the military forces of the Mikawa Monto, a group of warrior monks, who refused to obey his orders. Again the relationship between master and servant is defined as the difference between strategy and tactics: as the insurrections begin, Ieyasu sees the big picture, and knows it is up to Hanzo to do something to make the clogged river flow again (Remember, the magna is described as being about "Lifelong friends, with the same dreams, striving to grow into a rising river"). But this time, when the stakes are the highest they have been so far, Hanzo finds his efforts backfiring. In addition to the main plotline, Iyesau's wife sends her husband a strange message and Hanzo meets up again with Toma Eno, another suppa, who makes a strange request. Both of these sequences remind us that this story is far from over, although since Iyesau was 60 when he was named Shogun by the Emperor, I have to assume this magna will end decades short of that pivotal moment in Japanese history.
The second story here, "Changing Countenance," either constitutes an epilogue to this "Chapter on Shogyo Mujo," or is an interlude before the next story. It is not until Path of the Assassin Volume 7, Center of the World comes out in a couple of months that we will learn if the chapter continues or if Koike and Kojima are beginning the next one. A young girl wants to plead upon her death for Ieyasu to come and visit her dying father, a nameless, small "ashigaru" (foot solider of medieval Japan), who has a lesson to teach his master regarding the truth that can be read in the faces of men. The title comes from a series of masks the dying man has carved, to illustrate his point. Whether this presages specific events to come or is just a philosophical point raised in general, remains to be seen.
This pocket-sized magna format is oriented in the right-to-left reading format used by the creators, and you should have no problem with this approach by the time you are this far into the series. However, I wish I knew more about how these stories were originally published in Japan. A 282 page story in an American comic is going to run pretty much for a year divided into issues containing the same number of pages, unless it is published as a graphic novel. But "Life's Greatest Difficulty" is presented as just one giant story, even though there are clearly "episodes" within the framework of the larger narrative. When a particular "chapter" is broken into two parts in these Dark Horse volumes, ending one volume and beginning the next, I have assumed that these were artificial breaks, but I really do not know. Dark Horse could just be following what Koike and Kojima did for all I know. I am not complaining, because without the strictures of usual comic books, each of these stories is as long as Koike and Kojima need them to be, a fact amply demonstrated by the two stories in this particular volume.
Book Description
It's not easy being Hattori Hanzo. If he's not teaching the young and upcoming shogun how to love, then he's either behind the scenes teaching Ieyasu how not to die in case of a momentary lapse of protection. Or he might be in the shadows making sure Ieyasu's leadership is effective by any means necessary. If you thought you had a tough job, try taking a pudgy, protected youngster, and making him into the leader who would unite Japan under his singular rule. In this quasi-historical tale from the masters of Japanese samurai culture, Path of the Assassin shows a side of feudal japan that entertains with action as well as political drama.
Customer Reviews:
Nice escape to Feudal Japan.......2007-07-12
If you enjoyed "Lone Wolf and Cub" and "Samurai Executioner" from the same creative team, this series will not disappoint. It adds the ninja point-of-view to this well-crafted fiction of Feudal Japan. The depiction of ninja combat and techniques is handled realistically as opposed to the "ninja magic" of fantasy books. Due to graphic violence and sexual content the series is clearly for mature readers.
POTA review.......2007-01-04
Not what i wanted to get myself involved in. I tried this one out on a whim and it didnt pay off. The book itself so no larger than a box of matches. Story and art are just not up to par. May God be with you if you could get through this entire series
"A mountain is a problem, but a horse is too".......2007-01-02
"Hanzo no Mon" ("Path of the Assassin") is the story of Jattori Hanzo, the fabled master ninja whose duty was to protect his master Tokugawa Ieyasu (called Motonobu at this point), who in the fullness of time would become shogun, unify Japan, and create a modern nation. While Hanzo uses his formidable talents as a ninja to serve the young Ieyasu "in the dark," the two form a relationship that goes beyond master and servant, teacher and student, and even friendship. In Volume 2, "Sand and Flower," we see the young Motonobu start to exhibit the skills that would make him shogun and the balance in their relationship tips decidedly towards him. This is the third manga series published by Dark Horse featuring the work of writer Kazuo Koike and artist Goseki Kojima following "Lone Wolf & Cub" and "Samurai Executioner," and solidifies their spot in my mind as one of the great "comic book" teams of all-time. Once again there is a Parental Advisory for explicit content but this time the series is being printed in the right-to-left format of the original.
Volume 2 begins with the final three chapters in the opening saga, "Chapter on Relinquishing Pain." Motonobu has been married to Tsukiyama, a daughter of Sekiguchi Yoshihiro, the key vassal of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Following the birth of his daughter, Motonobu is given permission to return to Mikawa, where the young man must decide whether to stay in Mikawa and defect from Imagawa, or to go back to Sunpu and remain a hostage. Yoshimoto is testing the young Motonobu, who must make a pivotal decision in his life. In Chapter 8: "Neyasu Samehan," Motonobu is thinking of changing his name now that the New Year has arrived an the name of the era has changed, trying to find the perfect name for the person he wishes to be. But while he desires a life of quiet idleness, his inability to fly a kite or even climb a tree without Hanzo's help makes him doubt that he can survive the war that is coming. Chapter 9: "Crisis--The Tree at Risk," is when Motonobu is sent back to Mikawa to force his hand. He sees a tomorrow full of terror, which is why Hanzo knows his lord will survive. Meanwhile, a "baldy rat" is sent to spy on Motonubo. Chapter 10: "Complete Absence," is where Motonobu makes an initial decision on what to do.
The rest of Volume 2 is devoted to the first half (really) of the nine chapters that make up the next story line, "Chapter on Relinquishing Factions." Chapter 1: "A Mountain Is a Problem. But a Horse Is, Too," begins with Hanzo discovering the presence of the "baldy rat" and the two have an interesting conversation. Chapter 2: "Monkey and Pull," finds Motonobu considering the consequences of his actions. Chapter 3: "Sand and Flower" is an interlude in which Hanzo tries to stay alive long enough to say farewell to his bride. Chapter 4: "Fire Attack" finds Motonobu and his samurai laying siege to a castle in the pouring rain and to the surprise of his men ordering a fire attack. This seems madness, but of course Hanzo provides the method for it to succeed and for the first time we have a clear proof that Motonobu could one day be shogun. Chapter 5: "It Rains at Home, and It Rains on the Battlefield" (Part 1) has Hanzo giving his master the gift of a telescope as the next battle approaches. For the rest of the story you need to go on to "Volume 3: Comparison of a Man," but if you have gotten this far in the "Path of the Assassin" series I have to believe you are in it for the long haul.
History as it Happened.......2006-12-23
Hanzo the ninja and the future master of Japan continue learning about life and each other, encountering historical personajes and personal heartbreak. Ieyashu must continue to walk on the edge of a knife as he tries to be a feudal lord and not make the lord who keeps him as a hostage see him as a treat and kill him. It will only get harder. And he can find no joy at home with his cold, unloving wife. Although he has a plan to make her less cold...
Book Description
Warning! Reading this series might not only entertain you in many ways, but it might be somewhat educational as well! Let's start with ninja skills, samurai period drama and sexy teens. Yes, we have them all in one informative, semi-historical series from the famed creators of Lone Wolf and Cub, Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima. It's the story of to-be shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, in his late teens, battling and politicking his way to the leadership of Edo-era Japan. To do so, he must survive assasination attempts, political sabotage, bloody battlefields and a ferocious wife. And he does this with the help of his friend and vassal, the unstoppable ninja Hattori Hanzo. Heard these names before? That's because they're a revered part of Japan's (sometimes secret) past!
Customer Reviews:
Ieyasu's son Takechiyo turns out to be a Child of Smoke.......2007-10-08
I do not know if the gap between Dark Horse Manga's publication of each volume of "Path of the Assassin" has been steadily growing with each new release, but it certainly seems that way. It becomes necessary to fight the temptation to read each new volume cover to cover (starting at the "back" of course) as soon as it finally arrives and to limit myself to one story a night and letting the experience last an entire week. Fortunately an appreciation of Zen is helpful because you will discover in Volume 7, "Center of the World," that there is not a lot of action this time around. That is not to say that nothing happens, because the Baldy Rat shows up with a strange proposal, Ieyasu and Hatori Hanzo fight with the stems of weeds, and there are a couple of assassination attempts. But somehow the most compelling part of these stories become when Ieyasu lays out his options and his next step (or hop) along the path that will lead to him becoming Shogun, especially since in this volume he asks for Imperial permission to take the name Tokugawa by which history best remembers him.
We end up with parts of three different chapters in Volume 7, beginning with the end of the "Chapter on 'Shogyo Mujo.'" No. 3: "Oman," is about a young woman with whom Ieyasu is smitten. Of course, as lord of the castle he can have any woman he wants, and Hanzo is certainly happy to go and bring Oman hither, but Ieyasu has no desire to take any woman by force. So Hanzo arranges for Oman to be Ieyasu's maidservant, and that sets the stage for the rather innocent seduction that takes place. Now Hanzo's only problem is to make sure Ieyasu's wife does not find out what is going on, revealing yet another aspect of his limitless ingenuity.
The next five parts belong to the "Chapter on 'Josha Hissui,'" most of which is taken up by a massive story that surprisingly does not give this volume its title. That would be No. 1: "Center of the World," where Ieyasu's court is wondering what Hanzo has not been rewarded, when even those who have been conquered have been given something by Ieyasu. There is a simple explanation, so obvious that Hanzo does not see it. No. 2: "Child of Smoke," is the key story in this collection, and begins with an assassination attempt on Takechiyo, the young son of Ieyasu. While the boy's mother confronts the assassin, Ieyasu and Hanzo consider the political implications of such an attack. However, it is the Baldy Rat who shows up and offers not just an explanation, but also proposes a strange course of action for Ieyasu to take. Meanwhile, Hanzo and his wife consider whether having a child would interfere with his duty towards his lord; it turns out there is duty, and then there is duty.
The other two parts constitute an interlude between this chapter and the next one. No. 4: "No Pretty Trees on the Mountain Top" has Ieyasu considering the question of whether he should buy muskets to arm his troops, giving him another opportunity to weigh his opponents and mark his course. Similarly, No. 5: "Neither Sings nor Flies" finds master and friend sitting in a field playing with flowers while considering not only the future but the importance of luck. Finally, we get the opening part of the "Chapter on 'Esha Jori." No. 1: "Shinobi with Extending Fists, Part 1," has an assassination attempt on Ieyasu and single combat between Hanzo and the assassin to force a confession of who is behind the plot. I guess we are lucky that they found a convenient place to stop this story, and once again we have to wait for the next book, "Path Of The Assassin, Volume 8: Shinobi with Extending Fists" to see if this is halfway through the story on just the opening act of some larger saga. The fact that this story gives the next volume its title would be considered a clue.
With their fictional telling of the early life of Ieyasu Tokugawa, I think author Kazuo Koike and artist Goseki Kojima have crafted yet another masterpiece. Trying to pick between "Path of the Assassin," "Lone Wolf and Cub," and "Samurai Executioner" is just like the classic example of talking apples, oranges, and bananas. As long as you like fruit (for "fruit" read "manga"), there is no reason that you should not like watching a young boy turn into a Shogun, an epic saga about the quest for vengeance, or a contemplative look at the nature of justice in feudal Japan. I think "Path of the Assassin" might be my favorite, but that might just be because we are just shy of the halfway point in this 15-volume series. As always, keep in mind that these books are intended for mature readers and that the Parental Advisory label on the front cover (which is in the "back" since these books are oriented in right-to-left reading format as originally created) is a serious warning, because there are several scenes of naked nude people having sex.
Book Description
Ninjas, samurai, hot lovin', political intrigue, and gold! Path of the Assassin has it all in spades! Hanzo, the hero ninja for the future shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, has been in some tight situations before, but nothing like the trap set for him by a ninja from a competing warlord's clan! And to settle this trickery, a sexy battle of wits and weapns. Meanwhile, Tokugawa is moving across the battlefield on his way to Japan's future. Path of the Assassin is a pinnacle in (Lone Wolf and Cub creators) Koike and Kojima's fantastic and seemingly unending stable of awesome samurai manga. And as usual, these works don't wane as they draw toward their final volumes!
Books:
- Player Piano
- Princess Academy
- R Is For Ricochet (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
- Rachel's Holiday
- Replay
- Riding Lessons
- Sabine's Notebook: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Continues
- Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter (Hinges of History)
- Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil-Worshippers Who Became Saints
- Salem's Lot
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Visual Strategies for Improving Communication : Practical Supports for School & Home
- The Black Butterfly: An Invitation to Radical Aliveness
- Singing for the Stars: A Complete Program for Training Your Voice
- Making a Killing: How and Why Corporations Use Armed Force to Do Business
- Redefining Health Care: Creating Value-Based Competition on Results
- The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
- Sunday Suppers at Lucques: Seasonal Recipes from Market to Table
- Zenith Global Imports Automated Simulation for Century 21 Accounting Multicolumn Journal
- Minor Transnationalism
- Bloody Mary: A Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mystery
